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Patchwork Madras and Pink Linen

On my latest shopping trip to Mood Fabrics NYC I came home with two gorgeous summer-weight fabrics. The first was two and a half yards of this splendid cotton patchwork madras.

I’m not the preppiest person in the world but patchwork madras is a summer classic I love: it has such a playful, casual look to it. Mood Fabrics has many different color schemes to choose from. At first I thought I’d make a shirt, then I thought shorts — as luck would have it, I had enough yardage to make both, so I did!

My inside shirt collar stand, inside button plackets, inside yoke, and under collar are all made from solid gray cotton shirting to cut down on bulk, since the wrong side of the patchwork madras is crisscrossed with seams. (I highly recommend using plain cotton shirting for double-layered parts of any patchwork madras garment.)

The shorts have patch pockets in front and in back. The inside waistband and pocket linings are also made from solid gray cotton shirting.

My original intention wasn’t to wear these garments together (I swear), but I think they’re kind of fun as a matching set, don’t you?

More elegant, perhaps, is to pair the shirt with the white linen pants I posted here in April (the vintage madras bucket hat I’m wearing is a favorite I’ve owned for years).

To go with the shorts, I used the second fabric I bought this month — two yards of a very elegant pale pink linen — to make a shirt. I used the same Butterick shirt pattern, but I added a button-down collar to the pink shirt for a crisper look.

Needless to say, a pink linen shirt goes very well with the white linen pants too.

Comments

MaryJune 20, 2013

Great summer look. Very chic!

DebbieJune 20, 2013

Great sewing Peter. Love the prints and the pink shirt is very nice indeed. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the pattern as I sewed that very same pattern for my brother when it was released in the seventies! I should look for another one so I can sew it for my husband.
Thanks for bringing back some great memories
Deb

My personal preference is pairing hose two with other coordinates.. like the white pants or the pink linen shirt.

BeckyJune 20, 2013

Peter, this is just a great look for you, and I love the garments as well. You are very inspiring. I’m sure my partner wishes I would get busy and make him some clothes that are as good looking as these!

Peter, everthing came out great looking and you did your usual terrific workmandship (how DO you get those perfect buttonholes on the collar points?!) As for Coney Island, repeat after me: “Step away from the mustard, step away from the mustard. . . .”
Rock on,
Coco

You’ve won me over completely to patchwork madras. I would have looked at the yardage in the past and not known quite what to do with it. Bravo! Your linen separates are also wonderful! Summer personified!

AJune 21, 2013

I really like them paired together, it is a fun look, and all the rest look awesome too.

Hi Peter – the combination of all items is superb. And, what a great idea about the grey shirting pairing for the collar. You are looking good, my man! I was at Mood today (LA) but somehow missed the madras! I did pick up some seersucker.
Fantastic Post!

Wow Peter those are some awesome coordinating pieces! I love all of the looks that you’ve put together! You are going to look mighty fine in Coney Island!

mangoflavorJune 22, 2013

I love all the combos! You’re so stylish!

JuneJune 22, 2013

For some illogical reason I expected you to be wearing a soft sided captain’s cap in white duck instead of the bucket. Tony Curtis in ‘SomeLike it Hot’……..your fabric, patterns, construction AND photography: definitely ready for Capri, Hamptons, Newport; all you need are Chihuahuas and Tru Luv.